Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Manuscripts

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AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A SMALL MINIATURE OF SAINT ANNE HOLDING THE INFANT VIRGIN MARY, FROM AN ENGAGING LITTLE BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN.

TEXT FROM THE SATURDAY HOURS OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE VIRGIN.

(Northern France [probably Paris], ca. 1460s). 130 x 98 mm. (5 1/8 x 3 7/8"). Single column, 14 lines in a fine gothic book hand. Attractively matted. The text similarly decorated as in the previous entry, but with the panel border on the verso inhabited by a delightful grotesque in purple and gold with a curving trumpet-shaped snout, the recto WITH A CHARMING MINIATURE (measuring 35 x 33 mm.) OF SAINT ANNE HOLDING THE INFANT VIRGIN, the two attended by seven young virgins, the group standing in a room with a tessellated stone floor, a gothic window, and a red and gold wall hanging. One faint brown spot to margin, but a very fine, extremely fresh and clean leaf.

This very pretty leaf opens the infrequently seen Hours of the Conception of the Virgin, and it represents the second appearance of Saint Anne in the manuscript from which the present group of leaves comes. While we do not have historical evidence to support such a hypothesis, there is no harm in speculating that this unusual conjunction at least suggests the possibility that the original owner of the Book of Hours in question may herself have been named Anne. Like the others in this group, this miniature is carefully painted and realizes considerable detail in the scene's architecture and clothing.(ST12021-153)